Lobbying spending climbs to $151M

The New York Temporary State Commission on Lobbying once again reported a record high was spent in 2006.

The six-member panel, in its annual report, said $151 million was allocated on lobbying last year, up 1.3 percent from $149 million in 2005. According to records, the state has on file reports by 3,277 clients represented by 5,117 lobbyists and 70 public corporations.

For the tenth straight year, the firm of Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker, LLP, continued to report the highest lobbyist compensation. The national firm, with offices in Albany, totaled $7.8 million for 2006. Next was Bolton St. Johns Inc., at $5.1 million, followed by Patricia Lynch Associates Inc., at $5 million.

The highest-spending group was the Healthcare Association of New York State at $2.2 million. Other top spenders included communications giant Verizon Inc., along with Forest City Ratner Companies, a commercial real estate development company, at $2.1 million.